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SUB-TROPICAL & TROPICAL COASTAL RESILIENCE: Social, Economic, and Physical Adaptations in South Florida and the Caribbean

On Wednesday, April 7th, 2021 the University of Miami hosted a virtual symposium that explored lessons garnered from the Caribbean and South Florida realities and their applicability across the region and beyond. It brought together social and physical scientists, economists, scholars, and leaders from around the region, the symposium explored the interconnected and salient climate-induced or climate-aggravated aspects directly affecting people in the region. The goal being to better appreciate the associations between climate stressors, such as physical, societal, and economic vulnerabilities, and climate shocks, such as extreme weather events, as well as the correlated challenges and opportunities each presents. 

Dialogue Sessions

PHYSICAL RESILIENCE: BUILDING AND REAL ESTATE INDUSTRIES
Led by Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury. Panelists include Dr. Keren Bolter (Arcadis), Mr. David Martin (Terra Group), Mr. Bernardo Fort Brescia (Arquitectonica), Ms. Jacqueline Gonzalez Touzet (Touzet Studios), Mr. Kieran Bowers (Swire Group), and Mr. Douglas Pierce (Perkins&Will).
Distinguished Participants

ECONOMIC RESILIENCE: URBAN POLICIES
Hosted by Professor Sonia Chao. Panelist includes Mr. Jim Murley (Miami-Dade County), Ms. Amy Knowles (City of Miami Beach), Mr. Alan Dodd (City of Miami) and Ms. Sayda Rodriguez, (State of Yucatan).
Distinguished Participants

dialogue sessions

PHYSICAL RESILIENCE: GREEN, BLUE, AND GREY LINES OF DEFENSE
Hosted by Professor Brian Haus. Panelists include Ms. Elizabeth Wheaton (City of Miami Beach), Mr. Camilo Trench (UWI-Mona), and Mr. Rod Braun (The Nature Conservancy).
Distinguished Participants

dialogue sessions

SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND PHYSICAL RESILIENCE: ACADEMIC RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Hosted by Dean Guillermo Prado. Panelists include Prof. and Vice Provost for Research Erin Kobetz, Dr. Carlton Watson (Univ. of the Bahamas), Dr. Myriam Moïse (Caribbean Studies Assoc.), Dr. Alice Hovorka (York Univ.), and Beatriz Martins Carneiro (UNEP). 
Distinguished Participants

SOCIAL RESILIENCE: CLIMATE MIGRATION
Hosted by Dr. Felicia M. Knaul. Panelists include Dr. Adelle Thomas (University of the Bahamas), Professor Louis Marcellin (University of Miami), Professor Justin Stoler (University of Miami) and Professor Alejandro Portes (University of Miami).
Distinguished Participants

Mobility

Mobility, in this context, refers to the movements and motions that occur within a society. This symposium shall look at particular sub-topics, namely migration, tourism, economies, transportation, as well as gentrification, property values, and real estate development; each of which are taking on new forms, due to the impacts of climate change. Mobility, thus broadly refers to the transformations that take place in the people, practices, and places as a result of a changing climate.

Metabolisms

Metabolisms, within this framework, refers to the underlying processes, which seed and sustain the ‘terroir’ of a place and its society. The related sub-topics are namely identity, equity, wellness, knowledge, as well as the health, food, and natural systems relied upon for wellbeing. These metabolisms maintain the life of a society, and if due to climatological variabilities or changes, any should falter, society as a whole experiences harmful effects. 

Resilience

Resilience planning and actions enable a society to manage existing or emerging stressors and to recover from an extreme weather event; in either case, advancing and flourishing. Resilience both encourages and emerges from new innovations, patterns, attitudes, and interactions that respond to the necessities of an evolving climate, and in tandem addresses societal challenges and opportunities for betterment. This symposium shall look at issues such as social resilience in communities facing the greatest challenges from climate changes, as well as cities, buildings, and other systems necessarily transforming to withstand climate impacts through design, policy, and assessments.

Learn more about our co-hosts and sponsors.

sponsors and co-hosts